More Data on Guanfacine for Attention Deficit Disorder
Several months ago I mentioned that there is growing interest in a medicine called guanfacine for attention-deficit /hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Though it is not yet approved for this indication by the Food and Drug Administration, there were a number of papers about it at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association in San Diego last month.
The first (NR656) from Cincinnati and Massachusetts General Hospital looked at guanfacine extended release for the treatment of children aged 6 to 17 with ADHD. The study showed that the medicine wa both effective and well tolerated.
The second (NR657), also from Cincinnati looked at children who had been treated for 23 months, and it looks as if the efficacy is maintained. Thirteen out of 259 patients had serious side effects, which is actually quite a low number.
There were two more from Massachusetts General Hospital (NR658 and NR659) that produce very similar results: good efficacy and tolerability for up to two years.
Now we shall have to wait and see what the regulatory authorities in Europe and the United Sates have to say. There has been so much concern about the safety of medicines that the FDA in particular is being etxra cautious these days.
I shall let you know if and when I hear something more about guanfacine.
Dr. Richard G. Petty, MD is a world-renowned authority on the brain, and his revolutionary work on human energy systems has been acclaimed around the globe.
He is also an accredited specialist in internal and metabolic medicine, endocrinology, psychiatry, acupuncture and homeopathy. He has been an innovator and leader of the human potential movement for over thirty years and is also an active researcher, teacher, writer, professional speaker and broadcaster. He is the author of five books, including the groundbreaking and best selling CD series Healing, Meaning and Purpose. He has taught in over 45 countries and 48 states in the last ten years, but spends as much time as possible on his horse farm in Georgia.
